Collapsible ladder device

ABSTRACT

A collapsible ladder device comprising a plurality of series connected hinged members extendible to a linear condition and foldable to a collapsed condition. The plurality of members include first and second end members and a plurality of intermediate members with respective lengths allowing the device to be folded to a spiral rectangular form in its collapsed condition with the first end member located within the spiral and a second end member at the outer end of the spiral. Each member comprises a pair of displaced elongated elements substantially parallel to each other providing first and second sides of the device and a plurality of rung means connected between and securing together the first and second sides providing the steps for the device. Securing means comprising elongated flexible bands with first and second ends secured respectively with the first and second members when the device in its extended condition extends along the rear side of the elements for maintaining the device in its linear condition.

United States Patent Cebular s] 3,698,512 Oct. 17, 1972 [541 COLLAPSIBLE LADDER DEVICE [5 1 [72] Inventor: John V. Cebular, 2126 Shallross Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19124 22 Filed: April 27, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 137,852

[S 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ABSTRACT A collapsible ladder device comprising a plurality of series connected hinged members extendible to a linear condition and foldable to a collapsed condition. The plurality of members include first and second end members and a plurality of intermediate members with respective lengths allowing the device to be folded to a spiral rectangular form in its collapsed condition with the first end member located within the i spiral and a second end member at the outer end of the spiral. Each member comprises a pair of displaced elongated elements substantially parallel to each other providing first and second sides of the device and a plurality of rung means connected between and securing together the first and second sides providing the steps for the device. Securing means comprising elongated flexible bands with first and second ends secured respectively with the first and second members when the device in its extended condition extends along the rear side of the elements for maintaining the device in its linear condition.

2,629,532 2/1953 Tupper 494,073 3/1893 Necker ..182/163 204,962 6/1878 Fox ..l82/218 1,116,073 11/1914 Johnson et al ..182/228 258,028 5/1882 Decker ..l82/l96 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 271,552 6/1964 Australia ..182/163 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Jacob Trachtman /Z "1/06" r/ZP /06- l7 1= ==il /2a 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE LADDER DEVICE The invention relates to a collapsible ladder device, and more particularly to a ladder device which may be collapsed into compact rectangular form for storage or transportation.

Heretofore, ladder devices have been provided which have been collapsible. Such devices however have not been provided for being collapsed into a spiral form providing a compact rectangular collapsed condition for storage and transportation, while being extendible to a linear rigid condition for use.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved collapsible ladder device which can be compactly collapsed into rectangular form for storage and transportation, while being extendible to rigid linear form for use.

Another object of the invention to provide a new and improved collapsible ladder device, which is light in weight, maybe readily extended to linear form and collapsed to compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible ladder device which requires a minimum of maintenance and has long durability and reliability.

The above objects of invention are achieved by providing a collapsible ladder device comprising a plurality of series connected hinged members extendible to a linear condition and foldable to a collapsed condition. The plurality of members include first and second end members and a plurality of intermediate members with respective lengths allowing the device to be folded in spiral form to its collapsed condition with the first end member located within the spiral and the second end member at the outer end of the spiral. Each member comprises a pair of displaced elongated elements substantially parallel to each other providing first and second sides of the device and each element has opposite ends hingedly connected with the respective proximate ends of the adjacent members. A plurality of rung means are connected between and secure together the firstand second sides providing the steps for the device. Each of the elements has a front side and a rear side and each pair of hinged members is pivotable between a first terminal position with the linked members in linear alignment with each other, and a second terminal position in which said members are perpendicular to each other. The front sides of each of the elements of each pair of hinged members move toward each other when moving from their first to second terminal positions. Securing means comprising a pair of elongated flexible bands having first and second ends secured respectively with the first and second members, when the device in its extended condition, extends along the rear side of the elements for maintaining the device in its linear condition. Tensioning means comprise a plurality of rods each having a first end pivotally secured with a respective member at spaced positions intermediate the first and second end members and a second end with a loop receiving the band therethrough. When pivoted to extend normal to its respective member, the rods space the band away from the rear side of the elements of said members, tensioning the band and maintaining the device rigid in its linear extended condition. The ladder device may be collapsed by removing the tension from the bands by pivoting the rods to positions close to the members, detaching the ends of the bands from the end members, and pivoting the members to their second terminal position to provide the spiral rectangular form for the ladder device.

With the foregoing discussion in mind, this invention will be most readily understood from the following detailed description of a representative embodiment thereof, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a collapsible ladder device-embodying the invention, in its extended linear condition,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a device shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device in .its collapsed condition illustrating its spiral rectangular form,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective detailed view with parts exploded and broken away illustrating the structure of the device,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective exploded view illustrating a hinge connection of the device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a hinge con nection on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the figures, the collapsible ladder device l0 embodying the invention, comprises a plurality of members 12a through 12h, hingedly connected in series between the end members 12a and 12h.

Each member l2a-12h comprises a pair of elongated elements 14, 16 of U-shaped cross-section preferably made of a light metal such as aluminum. The elements l2a-12 illustrated are cast of aluminum to provide identical cross-sections, but are of respective lengths to allow collapse of the device 10 into the spiral rectangular form illustrated in FIG. 3.

- The elements 14 and 16 of the intermediate members 12b through 123, are each provided with male and female connecting ends 20 and 18 at opposite ends for hingedly engaging the proximate ends of the'elements of the adjacent members, while the end member 12a is provided with female connectors 18 at the upper ends of its elements 14 and 16 and the end member 12h is provided with male connectors 20 at the lower ends of its elements 14 and 16.

Considering in greater detail the connectors 18 and 20 of the joints 17, the female connector 18 at the upper ends of the members 12a through 12g, as clearly shown in FIG. 5, is provided with recessed inside surfaces 22 for receiving within the enlarged rectangular cavity 24 the parallel extending ends 26 of the male connector 20, atthe bottom end of the members 12b through 12h next adjacent thereto. The openings 28, of the connector 18 are in alignment with the openings 30 of the connector 20, and a bolt 32 is positioned therethrough and secured with a nut 34, while a spacer 36 with an opening 38 therethrough is retained about the bolt 32 intermediate the ends 26 of the joint 20.

A side 40 of the device 10 is provided by the series connected elements 14 of the members 12a through 12h, while an opposite side 42 of the device 10 is provided by the series connected elements 16. The sides the length of the sides 40, 42 providing the steps of the device 10.

As seen in FIG. 4, each rung means 44 has a pair of opposite U-shaped ends 46, 48 with aligned openings 50 therethrough, and an intermediate connecting portion 52. The ends 46, 48 of the rung means 44 are respectively received over the elements 14 and 16 of a member 12 which is provided with aligned openings 54 at the location of attachment. A bolt 56 passing through the aligned openings 50 and 54 and secured by a nut 58 attaches the ends 46, 48 of the rung means 44 with the elements 14, 16. A spacer 60 is also utilized about the bolt 56 within the elements 14, 16 at the location of attachment. The rung means 44, thus secures together the sides 14 and 16 of the device in spaced relationship, while a step is provided by its intermediate portion 52.

The particular rung means 44 illustrated in FIG. 4 is attached at the top end of the end member 12h which is not provided with a joint at its top, and provides the tabs 62. The other rung means 44 are located at intervals which are spaced to provide the steps of the device 10 and may be located intermediate the ends of the members, or may be located at the joint 17 between members as are the rung means 44 at 64, 66, 68 and 70, without alteration of the structure of the rung means. In the case where the rung means attached at a joint 17, the bolts and nuts 32 and 34 of the joint are also utilized for securing the rung means 44.

In considering the structure and operation of the joints 17, it is noted from FIG. 7 that the extending ends 26 of the male connector of the joint 17 are each provided with a pair of parallel linear sides 72, 74 and a rounded end 76, while the female connector 18 of the joint 17 has an abutting inside surface 78 and abutting opposite ledges 80 bounding the recess 24. When the joint 17 is in its first terminal position, shown in FIG. 7, with the joint members in linear alignment the edge 74 of-each of the extending ends 26 engages the surface 78 and prevents movement of the members about its joint 17 in the direction opposite that shown by the arrow 82. The hinged members can move in the direction of the arrow 82 about the hinge bolt 32 towards their second terminal position in which the front sides 84 of each of the elements 14, 16 move toward each other and the rear sides 86 move away from each other. Thus adjacent members 12a-12h assume their second terminal positions in which one member is perpendicular to its adjacent hinged members as shown in FIG. 3. When in the second terminal position, the edges 72 of the extending ends 26 of the connector 20 engage the respective ledges 80 of the connector 18 preventing further movement in the direction shown by the arrow 82. The rounded end 76 allows movement without interference between the first and second terminal positions at the joint 17. Thus, at the joint 17 formed at the upper end of a member, the next upper adjacent member may pivot in a clockwise direction, while at the next lower joint of such member, the adjacent member may pivot in the counterclockwise direction only, allowing the. ladder device 10 to be folded into the spiral rectangular form shown in FIG. 3 with the end member 12a forming the inner end of the spiral and the other end member 12h providing the outer end.

Each of the joints 17 may be provided with a reinforcing bracket 88 of U configuration for being received about the female end of the joint 17 at locations where the end bracket 46, 48 of the rung means 44 is not attached such as at locations 90.

With the collapsible ladder device 10 in its linear condition as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the members 12a-12h is maintained in its first terminal position with respect to its adjacent members by a pair of elongated bands 92, 94 which may be flexible continuous or chain type structures, each having attaching means or hooks 96, 98 at opposite ends. The books 96 of the bands 92, 94 are each respectively received through the openings 100 in the tabs 62 of the rung means 44 positioned at the nonhinged upper end of the member 12h, while the hooks 98 at the opposite ends are similarly attached by being received through the openings of tabs 102 provided by brackets 104 of U- shaped configuration attached at the bottom nonhinged end member 12a. The bands 92 and 94 respectively pass along the rear sides 86 of the elements 14, 16 of the device 10.

Tensioning means are provided in the form of a plurality of Y-shaped brackets 106 having a pair of legs 108 hinged at their ends with the members at spaced locations intermediate the end members 12a and 12h. The spaced locations are either at the joints 17 or atthe ends 46, 48 of the rung means 44, and provide pivotal movement about the securing bolts associated therewith. The other end of the bracket 106 is provided with a loop forming an opening through which respective bands 92, 94 are movably received.

When the tensioning brackets 106 are pivoted to their positions normal to the members 12a-12h, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, they retain the bands 92, 94 in position displaced from the rear sides of the elements 14 and 16 providing tension to the device 10 for maintaining it rigidly in its linear condition and preventing its piv'otal action about the joints 17 towards its collapsed condition. The bands 92, 94 are each provided with stop means 112 in the form of beads in spaced positions along its length for preventing the tensioning brackets 106 from pivoting downwardly out of their perpendicular positions.

When the collapsible ladder means 10 is to be placed in its compact rectangular form, the tensioning brackets 106 are moved in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow 114 in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated by the dashed lines 106'. This removes tension from the bands 92, 94 by allowing the band to assume a linear position proximate to the rear sides of the elements 14, 16. In this released condition, slack is provided in the bands 92, 94 to allow detachment of their ends 98, 96 from the end members 12a, 12h. Beginning with the lower member 12a, the members may be successfully pivoted to their second terminal positions to assume the spiral arrangement and collapsed rectangular condition for the ladder device 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

When the ladder means 10 is to be extended, the reverse steps are carried out, whereby, the members are pivoted to assume their first terminal positions in linear alignment with their adjacent members, the opposite ends 96, 98 of the bands 92, 94 are respectively attached to the end members, after which the tensioning brackets 106 are pivoted to their perpendicular positions for tensioning the band member and retaining the ladder device in its linear extended position.

Thus the disclosed ladder device provides a light compact ladder which may easily be extended for use on location and collapsed for being easily transported and readily stored in a minimum space.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention will find wide application with appropriate modification to meet the individual design circumstances, but without substantially departing from the essence of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible ladder device comprising a plurality of series connected hinged members extendible to a linear condition and foldable to a collapsed condition, said plurality of members including first and second end members and a plurality of intermediate members with respective lengths allowing the device to be folded in spiral form to its collapsed condition with the first end member located within the spiral and the second end member at the outer end of the spiral, said device in its collapsed condition having a rectangular form and every member being parallel to every other member evenly displaced from it in said series of members, a securing means for preventing said device from assuming its collapsed condition comprising a pair of elongated flexible bands each having first and second ends detachably secured with the first and second members when the device is in its extended condition and each extending along the rear side of a respective one of said elements for opposing the collapse of and maintaining said device in its linear condition for use, and tensioning means comprising a plurality of rods each having a first end pivotally secured with a said member at spaced positions intermediate said first and second end members and a second end movably receiving therethrough one of said bands, said tensioning means spacing said bands away from the rear side of said elements of said members when pivoted from its retracted position to extend normal to its said member for tensioning said band and maintaining said device in its extended condition, whereby the device may be collapsed by pivoting the rods to positions close to the members for removing tension from the bands, detaching the ends of the bands from the end members and pivoting the members to provide the spiral rectangular form for the ladder device.

2. The device of claim 1 in which each member comprises a pair of displaced elongated elements substantially parallel to each other providing first and second sides of said device and each end having opposite ends hingedly connected with the respective proximate ends of the adjacent members and including a plurality of rung means connected between and securing together the first and second sides providing the steps for said device.

3. The device of claim 2 in which each of said elements has a front side and a rear side and each pair of hinged members is pivotable between a first terminal position in linear alignment with each other and a second terminal position in whic said pgirs ofimembers are perpendicular to each ot er, the ront sides of the elements of each pair of hinged members moving toward each other when moving from their first to second terminal positions.

.4. The device of claim 3 in which the elements of said members are U-shaped in cross-section and each have opposite male and female pivotal ends for interconnecting with elements of adjacent members, said pivotal ends providing said first and second terminal positions.

5. The device of claim 4 including a plurality of U- shaped reinforcing brackets received about said elements at predetermined locations for supporting said rods, said rungs being provided with U-shaped ends for being secured to elements of said members at opposite sides of said device with an intermediate connecting strip of triangular cross-section for providing the steps of the device.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said band is provided with a plurality of stop elements along its length for engaging respective second ends of said rods. 

1. A collapsible ladder device comprising a plurality of series connected hinged members extendible to a linear condition and foldable to a collapsed condition, said plurality of members including first and second end members and a plurality of intermediate members with respective lengths allowing the device to be folded in spiral form To its collapsed condition with the first end member located within the spiral and the second end member at the outer end of the spiral, said device in its collapsed condition having a rectangular form and every member being parallel to every other member evenly displaced from it in said series of members, a securing means for preventing said device from assuming its collapsed condition comprising a pair of elongated flexible bands each having first and second ends detachably secured with the first and second members when the device is in its extended condition and each extending along the rear side of a respective one of said elements for opposing the collapse of and maintaining said device in its linear condition for use, and tensioning means comprising a plurality of rods each having a first end pivotally secured with a said member at spaced positions intermediate said first and second end members and a second end movably receiving therethrough one of said bands, said tensioning means spacing said bands away from the rear side of said elements of said members when pivoted from its retracted position to extend normal to its said member for tensioning said band and maintaining said device in its extended condition, whereby the device may be collapsed by pivoting the rods to positions close to the members for removing tension from the bands, detaching the ends of the bands from the end members and pivoting the members to provide the spiral rectangular form for the ladder device.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which each member comprises a pair of displaced elongated elements substantially parallel to each other providing first and second sides of said device and each end having opposite ends hingedly connected with the respective proximate ends of the adjacent members and including a plurality of rung means connected between and securing together the first and second sides providing the steps for said device.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which each of said elements has a front side and a rear side and each pair of hinged members is pivotable between a first terminal position in linear alignment with each other and a second terminal position in which said pairs of members are perpendicular to each other, the front sides of the elements of each pair of hinged members moving toward each other when moving from their first to second terminal positions.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which the elements of said members are U-shaped in cross-section and each have opposite male and female pivotal ends for interconnecting with elements of adjacent members, said pivotal ends providing said first and second terminal positions.
 5. The device of claim 4 including a plurality of U-shaped reinforcing brackets received about said elements at predetermined locations for supporting said rods, said rungs being provided with U-shaped ends for being secured to elements of said members at opposite sides of said device with an intermediate connecting strip of triangular cross-section for providing the steps of the device.
 6. The device of claim 1 in which said band is provided with a plurality of stop elements along its length for engaging respective second ends of said rods. 